California’s Blue Collar Work Force Filled with the Uninsured

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Aired 4/19/09

More than one out of four workers in major blue-collar jobs in California is uninsured. A new report from the San Diego-based
Center for Policy Initiatives
takes a look at what occupations are most affected. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.

Security guards, car mechanics, and ground maintenance workers are among the occupations with the highest percentage of uninsured. Food service jobs including cooks and wait-staff are also hard hit.

Susan Duerksen is with the Center for Policy Initiatives. She says a large number of construction workers are uninsured, as well.

Susan Duerksen
: The worst were the construction laborers, who are very low-paid, but there's also painters, electricians, carpenters, a lot of those people also have very high rates of no insurance.

The C-P-I report reveals the occupation with the highest number of uninsured is retail sales. Nearly 200,000 Californians in sales and related jobs have no health insurance.